LONDON: COVID-hit Chelsea have been held to a goalless draw through Wolves the day gone by after the Premier League rejected their request to delay the sport as Manchester Town put suffering Newcastle to the sword. Simply 4 video games have been left at the agenda this weekend out of the unique 10 as Britain’s worsening coronavirus disaster took its toll at the Premier League.
Golf equipment will meet nowadays to talk about what motion to take, with rising questions over the integrity of the contest because the busy festive duration looms. Stumbling Chelsea, who’ve struggled with sickness and accidents in contemporary weeks, have been handiest in a position to call 4 outfield avid gamers at the bench for his or her fit at Molineux. The guests, who’ve now received simply two in their previous six league video games, loved the majority of ownership however mustered only one shot not off course and at the moment are six issues in the back of leaders Town.
Thomas Tuchel used to be with out Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi, who’ve all examined sure for COVID-19. Jorginho, Kai Havertz and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have been additionally no longer within the squad. Chelsea previous showed that their request to have the sport referred to as off been became down. The Ecu champions’ request is known to had been rejected since the Blues have been deemed to have had sufficient avid gamers to satisfy the fixture consistent with Premier League rules.
“We did ask to delay the sport,” Tuchel showed earlier than kick-off. “We concept we had a powerful case in regards to the safety and the well being of the avid gamers. “We’ve got seven sure instances and each unmarried day we’ve had any other sure case coming in. We travelled in combination for 3 hours at the bus, we’re in conferences in combination, we now have lunch and dinners in combination. The location does no longer really feel like it’ll prevent.”
Newcastle calamity
Protecting champions Town beaten Newcastle 4-0 to substantiate their place on the most sensible of the desk at Christmas. Eddie Howe’s aspect shot themselves within the foot in simply the 5th minute, when calamitous protecting passed Town the lead after goalkeeper Martin Dubravka had carelessly conceded a nook.
The protection handiest half-cleared and Joao Cancelo hooked the ball again into the six-yard field. Newcastle gave the look to be in little threat however Ciaran Clark inexplicably selected to not make a easy headed clearance and Ruben Dias headed the unfastened ball into the online. The house aspect rallied and Joelinton went as regards to equalizing with a stinging shot from distance that flew simply huge of Ederson’s right-hand publish.
However Town silenced the passionate crowd at St James’s Park in a while earlier than the 30 minutes, when Cancelo jinked his well past Joe Willock and Isaac Hayden earlier than smashing a right-footed shot previous the helpless Dubravka from the threshold of the realm. Town maintained their company grip at the fit in the second one 1/2, with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling doubling their lead. Pep Guardiola’s Town have now received 8 league video games in a row to transport 4 issues transparent of second-placed Liverpool, who’re in motion at Tottenham in a while.
However relegation-threatened Newcastle stay 3 issues from protection having now performed two video games greater than Watford, who’re simply outdoor the drop zone. The Magpies’ rich new Saudi-backed house owners have indicated they’re going to make investments considerably within the squad however earlier than the January switch window opens they have got fixtures in opposition to Manchester United and Everton. Liverpool’s arrangements for his or her Premier League seek advice from to Spurs have been hit after Thiago Alcantara was the most recent of Jurgen Klopp’s avid gamers to go back a suspected sure check for COVID. — AFP
